, Columnist
Pandemic Data Could Be Deadly for the Old
Using biased data to allocate resources could perpetuate a high mortality rate.
Don’t write them off.
Photographer: Alvaro Calvo/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
The Covid-19 pandemic has brought out some ugly truths about modern-day ageism. A combination of the virus’s properties, an overwhelmed health-care system and systematic neglect have taken a brutal toll on the elderly.
Unfortunately, it could get worse — if countries effectively automate ageism by allowing what has happened so far to dictate future decisions about care.